Search This Blog

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Head Reading at Lawn Bowls: The Entry Port Motif



An entry port on the right hand side leading to the yellow jack: the rink runs from lower left to upper right

The chances for a successful draw to the jack are improved when the port configuration of bowls is present. A port is a funnel shaped passage, ideally that leads towards the jack at the same angle as the normal angle of draw of your bowl. The funnel shape is marked at two or more places by bowls so that if the delivery is either wide or narrow but a touch heavy it will be deflected back and funneled in the direction of the jack.


Ports are not visible from the mat. They need to be identified by the team member providing direction at the head. Because it is the bowler who knows the bias of his own bowls best, the bowler often needs to be called to the head to confirm the wisdom of what is being called for.

2 comments:

  1. That's an interesting point, Clarke. Something I'll be looking for in the future. All depends on whose bowls are where. If the front two were for the opposition there's a risk a narrow shot might knock one of their bowls in, in which case I'd be playing a yard-on shot from the left to try and take the jack around the back of my two back bowls. Regards, John

    ReplyDelete
  2. This shows only the bowls involved in the motif. In an actual bowls head there may be other bowls blocking the alternate approach.

    ReplyDelete

Please share your own insights and experience.